In his speech, Fitial pledged to ensure the protection of resources. “The CNMI is committed to ensuring that our coral reefs, the crown jewels of our oceans, will still be a bountiful, healthy and beautiful resource for future generations,” said Fitial.
The CNMI boasted its success in reducing land-based pollution in Laolao Bay, Saipan and erosion at Talakhya, Rota. The CNMI Marine Monitoring Team has documented statistically sound marine-activity trends by quantifying negative relationships between watershed pollution and selected measures of seagrass, algae, and coral assemblages thereby allowing us to re-focus CNMI watershed management strategies.
Additionally, the CNMI has completed a Conservation Action Plan, a site specific, ridge-to-reef and ecosystem based approach. Fitial also remarked on the commitment of the CNMI people to protect reefs, citing the recent presidential designation of the Marianas Trench Monument and the Micronesia Challenge.
The CNMI continues to raise community awareness through school visits and exhibits at community events. The most popular project is the summer student internship is now in its seventh year, has provided hands-on coral reef resource management experience to over 50 post-secondary students.
The CNMI was one of the few island jurisdictions that raised the concern of climate change.
“Despite all the good work that has occurred, there remain challenges that we face: the additional funding needed to implement projects, high staff turnovers, lack of training for staff and capacity in the agencies and the biggest threat, climate change. The CNMI believes that when we work together collectively, most of these challenges can be dealt with. We know that there are many new resources out there that can be shared and new partnerships that are yet to be developed,” said Fitial.
The United States Coral Reef Task Force was established in 1998 by presidential executive order to lead U.S. efforts to preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems. The USCRTF includes leaders of 12 Federal agencies, seven U.S. states, territories, commonwealths, and three freely associated states. The USCRTF helps build partnerships, strategies, and support for on-the-ground action to conserve coral reefs.
USCRTF members meet biannually to discuss key issues, propose new actions, present progress reports, and update the coral community on past accomplishments and future plans. For more information, visit www.coralreef.gov.
The CNMI receives funding to address the identified threats to CNMI’s coral reefs. The agencies responsible for implementing the projects include the Coastal Resources Management Office, the Division of Environmental Quality, and the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Projects are based on priority coral reef threats as identified by the CNMI Coral Reef Task Force. They are: Reducing sources of pollution, fisheries management-marine protected areas and community-based management; and public education and outreach.
For more information about the Coral Reef Initiative and current and previous coral reef management, visit www.cnmicoralreef.net
DFS honors employees of the month
(DFS Saipan) — DFS Saipan Ltd. recently recognized Clarabelle Ngirametuker and Julio Vasquez as January employees of the month.
Ngirametuker, the winner for the sales category, was nominated by her supervisor, Emilia Taitano.
Ngirametuker always serves customers with a warm Hafa Adai spirit.
She does an excellent job to help customers select items that are very suitable for them.
Ngirametuker is an independent worker, and she always keeps her eye on the merchandise stock.
She works toward store goals and objectives without needing supervision.
Ngirametuker has been with DFS since March 2000.
Vasquez, the winner for the support category, was recommended by his manager, Mark Moss, facilities department manager.
When Vasquez confronts a challenging request like making space for more stock in the sunglass department with a limited amount of budget, he carefully considers options to meet the goal.
Recently, he built a delightful space which does not harm the existing atmosphere in the sunglass department.
He is full of creativity, and he offers the spirit of a craftsman.
Vasquez was hired in March 1994.
Both employees received a framed employee of the month certificate, a $100 cash award, and VIP parking for one month.
They are now eligible candidates for the 2009 DFS Employee of the Year Award in their categories.
GRAND Knight Bro. Jim Ripple, Jr. respectfully invites all member Knights of Pale’ Luis De Medina Council No. 11969 to the first organizational general assembly council meeting, March 10, 7 p.m., Tuesday, in the San Vicente Church Social Hall.
Purpose of the meeting:
1. Reorganize our council
2. Introduce current and newest brother knights
3. Monthly Council membership dues collection to National Supreme Council
4. Decide what fraternal services we will provide to our community as a respected local, national, and international fraternal and volunteer Catholic organization.
All member Knights of Pale’ Luis de Medina Council are respectfully being asked to e-mail [email protected] to provide us your valid work/home/mobile phone contacts, email address, and the name of the company you work for communications and program activities purposes.
For more information, please contact any of the following:
1. GK Bro. Jim Ripple at 235-2302 or [email protected];
2. Deputy Grand Knight Bro. Donisio S. Camacho at 233-3283;
3. Secretary Sir Knight Bro. Tony L. Taisacan at [email protected]; or
4. Financial Secretary Bro. John Oliver Gonzales at 285-6382 or [email protected].
FROM March 2 to 20, Baha’is of the Mariana islands will join Baha’is worldwide to rise before dawn to eat breakfast, pray and then abstain from eating or drinking until sunset in observation of the annual 19-day fast.
Like Lent in Christianity and Ramadan in Islam, the Bahá’í Fast is essentially a period of meditation and prayer when the individual reflects on his or her own spiritual progress and makes an effort to detach from material desires.
As one Baha’i stated, “During the fast, we make an effort to become more thoughtful about the purpose of our lives?” The Faith exempts from fasting those who are ill, traveling, pregnant, nursing, menstruating or engaged in heavy labor.
The Bahá’í Faith, the second most widely spread religion in the world after Christianity, has more than five million members world wide and approximately 300 in the Marianas.
(Supreme Court) — The judiciary will host a memorial service in honor of the late Chief Justice Marty W.K. Taylor on Thursday, March 5, at 10 a.m. in the Supreme Court room and atrium of the Guma’ Hustisia.
The service is a private ceremony.
The Guma’ Hustisia will be closed to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and court proceedings will resume at 1:30 p.m.
Taylor, 71, served as chief justice of the CNMI Supreme Court from 1995 to 1998.
Altogether, he dedicated 23 years of his life to serving the people of the commonwealth.
He had an extraordinary professional life and career, but was just as proud of his personal life.
A dedicated family man, he often said that nothing pleased him more than spending time with his loved ones.
He had a wonderful sense of humor, a positive outlook on life, and everyone he met was guaranteed to leave his presence with a smile on their face.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, including his many friends from the judiciary.
